Online gaming has made the world an ever expanding playing field allowing people from all over the world. From specific online only games that are a paid or free service for people to enjoy, pass time, play with friends or make new ones.
The essence of what online gaming is it to be able to play games across a computer terminal over wired or wireless connections in worlds that range from text based to graphics card hungry vast expensive virtual worlds. As a result of the improved connectivity, online games have spawned boundless communities beyond the single player story mode of most games.
Online gaming can happen on an a multitude of platforms from web-based, console based to even mobile phones to play on the move. Some developers such as EA Sports even have their own dedicated services. Consoles also have their own dedicated servers that are either a paid or “free” service from Microsoft’s Xbox Live to PlayStation, and Nintendo having their own dedicated systems.
Online games come in may different styles of game from first person shooter to real time strategy, cross platform play, sports, role playing to espionage and much more. With ever increasing web speeds Massively Multilayer Online Games have come to life. Such successful gaming franchises as World Of Warcraft, Eve Online and Full House Poker plus a whole host of others. Large franchises like Grand Theft Auto and Call Of Duty have profited vastly form their online gaming facities to a point ther in some online first person shooters they host gaming competitions to find out who truly is the best in the world.
With the 24/7 access to gaming there has had to be governance put into place by the End User License Agreement (EULA) of which breaking these terms and conditions can make you liable for suspension and penalties.
As you would expect from any community there will be some negative elements. As a result of human beings being more actively involved with online gaming it has birthed cyber bullying. Hate speeches and harassment tactics have been given a new outlet which sites are actively looking to penalise offensiveness and rightly so.
We live in an ever increasing connected world from mobile integrations to games rented online or downloaded directly to the device. It is worth while to note there is a fine line between achieving gaming brilliance and addiction to computer games. You need to play the games responsibility and not to your personal detriment (including breaking world records for consistent play).